Profiles

According to its home page, the 'Many Australian Photographers Group', (the MAP Group), 'is a non-profit association of around 40 photographers who share a passion and commitment to high quality, independent documentary image making.' The membership is drawn from a wide spectrum of photographers. Some of the group are just setting out on their careers behind the lens, while others have established practices and have earned awards nationally and internationally.

The MAP group has undertaken an ambitious nation-wide photo documentary project called Beyond Reasonable Drought. It sets out to record the impact of the long-running drought on the land, the people and the psyche of Australia. In a significant act of philanthropy, all the photographers involved have donated their time and covered their own costs. The first stage of this huge undertaking resulted in an exhibition that appeared at Old Parliament House, Canberra, and formed a major component of the Vivid National Photography Festival which ran from July to October 2008 in the ACT.


Noel Butcher: Eye on the Drought

PHOTOGRAPHER'S COMMENTS: late March 2007 and the drought continues, as shown by this near empty vineyard dam lit by the early morning sun in the Yarra Valley, east of Melbourne. Photographed from a hot air balloon.
Website: www.noelb.com; Email: noelb@noelb.com


Tobias Titz: Bobby Kennedy

PHOTOGRAPHER'S COMMENTS: I took this photo of Bobby for the Hay project in 2007. Bobby Kennedy is a 72-year-old former rodeo rider and drover who has lived in Hay for more than 60 years. He spends most of his time on 'Knowledge Corner' outside Japp's Pharmacy - he loves having a yarn. I took this photo with a Horseman 4x5-inch camera on Polaroid type 665 film; 1/30 sec, f5.6 daylight.
Website: www.tobiastitz.de; Email: office@tobiastitz.de
 


Darren Clark: Untitled

PHOTOGRAPHER'S COMMENTS: The sheep carcass image was one of those images that takes ages to make. What I mean by that is most farmers don't want to show anyone their dead livestock - especially a photographer - but by the time I made this image I had spent months working around the district developing some strong friendships which helped me to gain access to the sheering sheds in the first place. Once I explained to the farmer just how beautiful and significant the image was, he gave me full permission to use it however I wanted.
Email: darrenclark20@hotmail.com

The MAP group will be exhibiting images from MAPing Ballarat in the 'A' Room at the Ballarat Town Hall as part of the Core Program Exhibitions of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale.